[governance] Culture sensitivity education (was Re: Bangladesh Govt blocks YouTube)

[Nick Ashton-Hart]

+1 to David's sentiments, FWIW.

> Norbert,
>
> On Sep 23, 2012, at 6:52 AM, Norbert Bollow <nb at bollow.ch> wrote:
>> Culture sensitivity education is also needed.
>
>
> Do you seriously think the folks who created the "Innocence of Muslims" abomination were ignorant of how their 'movie' would be received?
>
> The reality is that people will make irritating, inflammatory, offensive, obscene, etc., statements, regardless of education or laws that attempt to ban those statements. The problem is not with the words, but with the intent. If it is someone's intent to be offensive, cultural sensitivity training is not going to stop it (if fact, I suspect it'll make it easier to know exactly what to say/do to cause the most offense). Even laws won't stop it -- people are amazingly inventive when it comes to figuring out how to be offensive.
>
> Given this, and given the Internet allows pretty much anyone, anywhere, at any time to broadcast their speech (anonymously if necessary), it seems to me that education would more usefully be applied to helping people understand that it takes two to be offended and how, if one chooses to be offended, to best demonstrate against that offense (e.g., _not_ by rioting or storming/burning embassies).
>
>> Maybe the US government would be well advised to request developmental
>> aid from countries which are more advanced in this regard? Actually
>> I'd be surprised if Switzerland were really the only country able to
>> provide assistance regarding this kind of topic.
>
> I figure pretty much every country has their strengths and weaknesses in this area and often people within those countries are unaware of how their actions are perceived.  For example, some might perceive that a country passing a constitutional amendment banning the construction of minarets would suggest a certain lack of cultural sensitivity and/or perhaps may not be the best to lecture others on cultural sensitivity. YMMV.
>
> Regards,
> -drc
>
>
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